The Husband Stitch

The Husband Stitch is a short story by Carmen Maria Machado, written as part of her genre bending collection “Her Body and Other Parties”, adapted for the first time for stage. A woman recounts her life from girlhood to motherhood, as she is shaped by her desire, devotion and deeply rooted beliefs. Based in urban legend and gothic horror, the Husband Stitch unravels the complex relationship between control and intimacy, romance and agency for a woman who is expected to give everything for her husband. The play is a theatrical patchwork, blending traditional tropes from horror, realism and folklore to depict the daily horror of womanhood in a patriarchal culture that subjugates and controls women’s bodies. This piece strips back the lustre and veneer of fairy tale, folklore and romance to reveal the violence they disguise as love, asking why it’s not enough for a woman to say – please don’t.